Multiplex communications – Diagnostic testing – Fault detection
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-14
2001-08-07
Marcelo, Melvin (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Diagnostic testing
Fault detection
C370S246000, C370S252000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272112
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a repeating unit testing system for a repeating unit such as a router which repeats communication between a plurality of apparatus and a communication apparatus as well as a communication method, and more particularly to tests of the line connection time and the total packet number between a repeating unit and a communication network such as a public line.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a result of development of the communication technique, a large scale user takes a form wherein local area networks (local area network is hereinafter referred to as LAN) at various positions in the whole country are connected to each other by a wide area network. In this form, such a connection form of a first LAN—first router (repeating unit)—WAN such as an INS network—second router (repeating unit)—second LAN is taken. In a connection form of such a type as just described, a first LAN terminal accommodated in the first LAN sets an address (for example, an IP address) of a second LAN terminal accommodated in the second LAN to packets and transmits the packets to the first router. The first router refers to its routing table to determine an output port for the packets from the IP address and transmits the packets from the port to the second router through the INS network.
The second router refers to its routing table to determine an output port for the packets from the IP address and transmits the packets to the second LAN terminal. The second LAN terminal receives the packets. When such packets are transmitted using a public network such as an INS network, it is charged by a time rate or a meter rate. According to the time rate, the charge depends upon a connection time of the INS network, and according to the meter rate, the charge depends upon the number of transmitted packets. Accordingly, when the first router connects a line to the INS network and transmits packets, if excessive time is required for the line connection or a surplus packet is transmitted to the INS network, then an excessive amount of money is charged, which is inconvenient for the user. In order to eliminate such a situation, a test is required to confirm that the line connection time between each router and the INS network is normal and that the total transmission packet number is normal.
Conventionally, the line connection time or the packet number is confirmed by outputting information (log information) recorded by a router to an outputting apparatus such as a printer so as to allow manual confirmation or by developing a warning if the connection time or the packet number exceeds a threshold value. Besides, such confirmation relies upon actual connection to and communication with an INS network. However, conventionally a correct value to be used for reference for confirmation of whether or not a result of a test is normal must be calculated by comparison with a log by a human being, and this is disadvantageous in that much time is required for the calculation and besides the reliability is low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a repeating unit testing system which can perform tests of the connection time between repeating units and the total packet number readily and with certainty.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a repeating unit testing system which includes a first tester accommodated in a first communication network, a first repeating unit having a first port connected to the first communication network and a second port connected to a second communication network, and a second repeating unit having a third port connected to the second communication network, comprising first packet transmission means provided in the first tester for transmitting a plurality of packets whose transmission destination address is the second repeating unit to the first communication network for a fixed period of time, second packet transmission means provided in the first repeating unit for receiving the packets from the first port and transmitting the packets from the second port to the second communication network, packet reception means provided in the second repeating unit for receiving the packets from the third port, line connection-disconnection log information acquisition means provided in the first or second repeating unit for acquiring log information regarding connection and disconnection of a line of the second communication network between the second port and the third port, and line connection-disconnection log information collection means provided in the first tester for collecting the log information.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a repeating unit testing system which includes a first tester accommodated in a first communication network, a first repeating unit having a first port connected to the first communication network and a second port connected to a second communication network, and a second repeating unit having a third port connected to the second communication network, comprising first packet transmission means provided in the first tester for transmitting a fixed number of packets whose transmission destination address is the second repeating unit to the first communication network, second packet transmission means provided in the first repeating unit for receiving the packets from the first port and transmitting the packets from the second port to the second communication network, packet reception means provided in the second repeating unit for receiving the packets from the third port, packet log information acquisition means provided in the first or second repeating unit for acquiring log information regarding the packet transmission or the packet reception, and packet log information collection means provided in the first tester for collecting the log information.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood, from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5596574 (1997-01-01), Perlman et al.
patent: 5724510 (1998-03-01), Arndt et al.
patent: 58-14641 (1983-01-01), None
patent: 63-139461 (1988-06-01), None
patent: 4-27246 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 4-100473 (1992-04-01), None
Fujitsu Limited
Marcelo Melvin
Staas & Halsey , LLP
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